To Bill and The Rest...Here again comes the situation that someone wants the forum's opinion and then argues the point. Here again someone on another forum places a load that goes well outside of factory pressures! BTB Forum has in the past, as it should, been conservative on supercharging any caliber! Expermenting within the pressure limits of an action is all right, but making statements that that apples should compare with oranges just doesn't fly. To compare a straight wall case to a tapered case and how it handles bolt thrust is plain stupid, they just don't react the same. In the case of lever guns bolt thrust is ten times more important than "blow up" pressure. Even the strongest lever gun pressure is related to bolt thrust on the locking lug, or lugs. When the pressure exceeds the design of lever guns they "stretch" and problems begin! The only exception to this are the few designs around where the bolt lugs engage like a bolt action rifle. These people on other forums post these loads without the benefit of pressure gun, etc. They seem to think all the companies post ultra consevative load data. That is a rare case anymore. I know....don't come tell me about oldies like the 7mm Mauser, 257 Roberts, 7mm Mauser and the rest. If you had seen some of the rifles made up on those calibers you would know why they have kept the pressure down.
I only hope that this Forum will remain conserative and recommend safe loads within the design of the cartridge and firearm. We live in an age of faster is better....and it's nothing but a sales gimmick! If you want to go to a higher velocity ....buy another rifle!
Best Regards, James
(Edited by James Gates at 4:15 pm on May 18, 2001)